EXCLUSIVE: Hot from a rousing Venice world premiere of The Smashing Machine, writer-director Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson are planning a quick reteam in another film, Lizard Music. Safdie will adapt the Daniel Pinkwater novel and direct Johnson in the role of Chicken Man. The package will be shopped imminently.
Safdie won the Silver Lion at Venice, and Johnson and co-star Emily Blunt drew acclaim and a long standing ovation for their work. The producers will be Safdie for Down for the Count Productions; Johnson for Seven Bucks Productions; and David Koplan, who produced The Smashing Machine.
The plot: When a boy left to his own devices stumbles upon a secret late-night broadcast of lizards playing otherworldly music, a hidden door to the extraordinary swings open. His search for answers leads him to the eccentric and whimsical Chicken Man and his beloved companion, a 70-year-old chicken named Claudia — two kindred spirits who have also glimpsed the impossible. United by this shared vision, they set off on an adventure that begins as a hunt for a hidden society but blossoms into something far greater: a voyage through invisible worlds, unexpected harmonies, and the unbreakable bond between lost souls who discover magic not only in what they find, but in each other.
I first met Johnson late one night for a magazine article, when he was in makeup to play the Scorpion King. Not the resulting spinoff, but rather the cameo in The Mummy Returns that marked his screen debut and transition from the wrestling ring. We spoke long into the night about where he came from and where he wanted to go. It was clear he was putting a lot of energy toward proving he was serious about acting, with aspirations to play Polynesian heroes like King Kamehameha. He’s proven himself as a commanding and charismatic presence in brawny blockbusters and comedies, but The Smashing Machine leaves him poised to raise the bar. He’s also got a date to star with his Smashing Machine co-star Blunt in a Hawaii-set Goodfellas-style period true-crime drama. He’s on his way.
Stay tuned as we see where this package lands.
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